Thursday

Sep 12, 2019 at 2:39 PM

Four words: True-crime stripper drama. Have I got your attention? Good, because “Hustlers” commands it - and not just because Jennifer Lopez delivers a jaw-dropping, show-stopping pole dancing performance. Rather, it’s writer-director Lorene Scafaria’s ability to craft something more than just another stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold. It’s style fortified by substance; think “Goodfellas” in G-strings with shades of “Boiler Room’s” felonious shenanigans.

Scafaria’s (“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”) source material is a New York magazine piece, “The Hustlers at Scores,” recounting the exploits of a group of strippers who fleeced the men of Wall Street in the years following the 2008 financial crisis. The plan: drug rich “fish” with flirtatious smiles and a cocktail of ketamine and MDMA, max out their credit cards and collect the cash. It’s foolproof - what man dare report losing thousands of dollars at a strip club? Sure, it’s a crime, but this couldn’t happen to worse guys. After all, the women reason, these bailed-out bankers robbed the whole country blind in the first place. It’s karma.

“Hustlers” opens on Destiny’s (Constance Wu) first night at the club, Moves. The camera infiltrates backstage, capturing all the banter as the girls (including Cardi B and Lizzo) primp for their moment in the spotlight. It tails Destiny as she works her way toward the stage. She exhales, ready to meet her fate. Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) is going against type and it takes a few scenes to accept her as a cash-strapped newbie desperate to pay her grandmother’s rent.

J-Lo delivers a career-best performance, playing veteran dancer Ramona with Jenny-from-the-block attitude mixed with copious amounts of va-va-voom and a dash of maternal concern. On the flip-side, Wu possesses all the required naivete. Together, their chemistry is genuine. They feel like real friends. You melt when Lopez - all motherly and lip-glossed - invites Destiny to “climb into my fur,” as she opens up her luxurious coat to warm the girl from the chilly New York City night. Destiny is instantly hooked. You will be, too.

What plays out is more a story of comradeship, but their desire for cash comes at a cost. That’s an interesting area to explore. Scafaria’s direction grounds the movie in a solid and clear female perspective. There are basically no male characters; they’re just props. Nor does her camera ever linger and leer, eschewing gratuitous nudity and crotch shots. Yet, it’s no less titillating.

Scafaria also puts her characters in precarious situations but treats them with empathy and respect. A strong supporting cast helps keep Scafaria’s vision brimming with energy and life, led by Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer and Madeline Brewer. Julia Stiles plays Jessica Pressler, the journalist who wrote the film’s source article. Her interviews are the framing device.

“Hustlers” isn’t without its shortcomings, namely a repetitive second-act. But it’s not about to keep the movie from being original and entertaining. And that’s the naked truth.

Dana Barbuto may be reached at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com or follow her on Twitter @dbarbuto_Ledger.